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Nuclear forensic analysis of an unknown uranium ore concentrate sample seized in a criminal investigation in Australia

Journal Article · · Forensic Science International
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  1. Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Kirrawee, NSW (Australia)
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
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In early 2009, a state policing agency raided a clandestine drug laboratory in a suburb of a major city in Australia. While searching the laboratory, they discovered a small glass jar labelled “Gamma Source” and containing a green powder. The powder was radioactive. This paper documents the detailed nuclear forensic analysis undertaken to characterize and identify the material and determine its provenance. Isotopic and impurity content, phase composition, microstructure and other characteristics were measured on the seized sample, and the results were compared with similar material obtained from the suspected source (ore and ore concentrate material). While an extensive range of parameters were measured, the key ‘nuclear forensic signatures’ used to identify the material were the U isotopic composition, Pb and Sr isotope ratios, and the rare earth element pattern. These measurements, in combination with statistical analysis of the elemental and isotopic content of the material against a database of uranium ore concentrates sourced from mines located worldwide, led to the conclusion that the seized material (a uranium ore concentrate of natural isotopic abundance) most likely originated from Mary Kathleen, a former Australian uranium mine.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1240936
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL--683860
Journal Information:
Forensic Science International, Journal Name: Forensic Science International Journal Issue: C Vol. 240; ISSN 0379-0738
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (9)

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The provenance of Australian uranium ore concentrates by elemental and isotopic analysis journal April 2008
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Determination of metallic impurities in U3O8 using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry journal July 2008
Application of Lead and Strontium Isotope Ratio Measurements for the Origin Assessment of Uranium Ore Concentrates journal October 2009
Investigation of the isotopic composition of lead and of trace elements concentrations in natural uranium materials as a signature in nuclear forensics journal January 2007
Origin assessment of uranium ore concentrates based on their rare-earth elemental impurity pattern journal January 2010
230 Th- 234 U model ages of some uranium standard reference materials journal September 2011

Cited By (7)

Development of a versatile sample preparation method and its application for rare-earth pattern and Nd isotope ratio analysis in nuclear forensics journal September 2014
Spatial investigation of some uranium minerals using nuclear microprobe journal January 2018
Discrimination of uranium ore concentrates by chemometric data analysis to support provenance assessment for nuclear forensics applications journal May 2018
What’s that yellow powder? A nuclear forensic case study journal August 2018
Development of small particle speciation for nuclear forensics by soft X-ray scanning transmission spectromicroscopy journal January 2018
Development, validation and verification of an ICP-MS procedure for a multi-element analysis of uranium ore concentrates journal January 2017
A novel nuclear forensic tool involving deposit type normalized rare earth element signatures journal July 2017

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Nuclear forensic signatures
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